The following is an interview with NKR MP Hayk Khanoumyan who was attacked by a group of men outside the Artsakh parliament on June 6, 2016, thrown into a car, and then taken to the Nor Aresh neighborhood, and beaten. The day before, after a ceremony welcoming back former NKR Minister of Defense Samvel Babayan, Khanoumyan led a march to the presidential office, demanding that Babayan be appointed the country’s defense minister. Three individuals have been arrested and charged in the incident.

Three individuals have been arrested so far. You have hired Hayk Aloumyan as your lawyer. Are you pleased with the way the preliminary investigation has proceeded?

We are not satisfied. There are many issues that remain unanswered. The police took their time exposing those responsible. For example, even though the police have the license plates of some of the cars involved, they haven’t been able to locate these cars or their owners. This, I believe, would take a matter of minutes. This is the case despite the fact that the police were paying special attention to cars at the event.

If we believe the police, the third aspect of the incident, identifying those who beat me in Nor Aresh, is problematic due to the lack of evidence. At least, however, the identity of those who participated in the incident in Renaissance Square, opposite the parliament, shouldn’t have been a problem. To date, the police haven’t been able to verify the driver of the car used to kidnap me (he isn’t one of those arrested), despite the fact that the car in question has been found and that the incident took place in the presence of cameras.

Why do you think the police are acting in such a manner?

The behavior of the police was suspect from the start. The incident, from when it started to the time I wound up in hospital, lasted for more than one hour. During the whole time, the police knew nothing, even though the incident took place in the center of the capital opposite specially protected buildings. The police even had a hard time registering news of the crime, even when I was in the resuscitation unit.

Rumors are circulating in Stepanakert that those arrested will be pardoned or subject to a general amnesty. What’s your response to such news?

The country’s president can offer a general amnesty and can pardon any convicted person. I believe that if those involved in the incident are pardoned, any doubts as to who organized the attacked against me will be automatically directed at the president.

Who do you think organized the attack?

Interesting testimony has come to light in this regard. For example, physically fit individuals dressed in military attire and speaking with a Yerevan accent, didn’t let patrons at the Armenia café to break up the attack. This implies that they were personnel from special units from Armenia. Certain Yerevan bodies are specialists when it comes to inflaming hatred amongst various sectors of society. This is done to rule out people galvanizing around various issues.

How have your colleagues in parliament reacted to the incident?

Immediately after the incident, the parliamentary factions issued a communique condemning it and have consistently demanded clarification and information from the police. The kidnapping and beating of a member of parliament opposite the National Assembly and a few meters away from the parliament’s security staff, is directed at all MPs and the parliament, as one branch of the government and an important state institution.

Interview conducted by L. Hakobyan